Decorations are up and holiday lights are blazing outside thousands of homes across Connecticut, but a few locations offer visitors genuinely over-the-top extravaganza displays along with something extra: A chance to help charities.
Typically these shows have spectacular quantities of lights, often synced to music and sometimes employing projection systems with the whole side of a house serving as the screen.
Unlike commercial displays, these are set in ordinary neighborhoods, produced by volunteer homeowners and charge no admission fee. Visitors come from other towns or even from across the state every evening to enjoy the show, driving past very slowly past or — traffic permitting — stopping briefly.
Beyond soaking in the sights and sounds of festive holiday displays, visitors are also invited to drop off charitable donations, either money or non-perishable food for a community food bank or homeless shelter.
When a steady stream of people drop off small amounts over the course of the holiday season, the ultimate benefit to charity can be substantial. In more than 35 years of decorating her home as New Britain’s famous “Christmas House,” the late Rita Giancola generated dozens of tons of food donations — and established a tradition of generosity that neighbors still talk about nine years after her death.
In the case of Lights on Rosewood in Bristol, the beneficiaries change every year. Homeowners Rob and Lori Osenkowski select a local family experiencing a crisis and ask for donations to benefit them. This year, the Osenkowskis are calling on people to help the family of 3-year-old Elena Lappostato of Plainville, who was diagnosed in September with neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer.
“Elena’s mom and dad, Sarah and Tony, are so very grateful that the community is rallying together for their daughter. Elena faces at least 18 months of intense treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, stem cell therapy and a bone marrow transplant,” the Osenkowskis said.
“Care will take place both in Connecticut and at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber in Boston. Sarah will remain with Elena throughout treatment, and Tony will be home caring for her big sister, Flora,” the Osenkowskis said. “These first months have been overwhelming, but their hope is strong, and their gratitude for their community is endless.”
A few of central Connecticut’s best and most established are currently at the peak of their season. Here are six of the best in Bristol, Plainville, Middletown, Glastonbury and South Windsor.
Lights on Rosewood
111 Rosewood Dr., Bristol
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Music on 98.3 FM is provided Thursdays through Sundays. Monday-Wednesday is static lights, no music.
Special features: An animated Frosty, Santa and nine reindeer are on the roof along with a 8-foot Grinch holding an ornament and popping out of the living room roof.
To help: Donations for the Lappostatos can made by Venmo to @Lights-On-Rosewood or in the donation box in front of the display, either in cash or with a check to Sarah or Antonino Lappostato. The Osenkowskis are also collecting canned goods for Brians Angels, a homeless outreach organization in Bristol.
Lights on Eastbury Pond
39 Fisher Hill Road, Glastonbury
When: 4:45 to 11 p.m.
Special features: The effect of tens of thousands of lights is richly multiplied by reflections on the water of Eastbury Pond.
To help: Organizers are hosting a fundraiser on Dec. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. to benefit Connecticut veterans and the Connecticut Cat Connection rescue. Visitors are asked to bring any type of new cat supplies or food or new hats, scarves, gloves and socks. Organizers also can accept monetary donations.
Joshua’s Christmas Display
15 Hillscrest Road, Plainville
When: 5 to 9 p.m. through Jan. 1, with holiday music at 92.9 FM.
Special features: Kids can take photos of the display’s new sleigh and are invited to leave letters to Santa in the mailbox next to the donation box. The entire show is dedicated to the memory of Joshua Brunelle’s mother, Jill Ann Brunelle, who died in 2011.
To help: A donation box on the driveway accepts non-perishable food items and cash for the Plainville Community Food pantry. Donations can also be made through Venmo via @JoshuaChristmasDisplay or by Cash App at $JoshChristmasDisplay.
April & Mark’s Cartoon Christmas Display
174 N. Washington St., Plainville
When: Fridays 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays 5 to 8 p.m., Sundays 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Special features: This is a rare walk-through display, where visitors are invited park on the side street and then experience the show of lights and festive holiday cartoon characters up close in the Blethens’ yard.
To help: The Blethens accept non-perishable food items, toiletries, socks and cash donations for the Plainville Food Pantry.
Holiday Lights at Felt Road
130 Felt Road, South Windsor
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through New Year’s Day.
Special features: Tom and Audrey Delnicki have been putting on the huge light show for years, and typically use 70,000 or more bulbs.
To help: Any non-perishable food items will be accepted for the South Windsor Food and Fuel Bank.
Sand Hill Road Holiday of Lights
263 and 277 Sand Hill Road, Middletown
When: 5 to 10 p.m. weekdays and until 11 p.m. on weekends.
Special features: Michelle Pirruccio and Tommy Wrinn decorate their 263 Sand Hill home, and neighbor Tom Wickam does the same at 277 Sand Hill. Pirruccio this year added a partial walk-through feature in her yard. There is a walking path made of wooden pallets. “We only ask that all visitors stay on either the walking path or driveway and do not enter into where the decorations are because the wiring and cords could be hazardous,” she said.
To help: Nonperishable pet food is collected and donated to Amazing Grace Food Pantry, Cat Tales Cat Shelter and the Middletown Dog Shelter.